Shoe sole construction



Feb. 6, 1945. L, KLEVEN r 2,368,845

SHOE SOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 13, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

Sam uel L. Kle ven A T T OEPZEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SOLE CONSTRUCTION Samuel L. Kleven, Augusta, Maine Application July 13, 1944, Serial No. 544,692

(01. ski-s1) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to outsoles and is a continuation in part .of my co -pending application, Serial No. 486,651, filed May 12, 1943.

In said application, I disclosed an outsole in which a minimum of leather is used and which is a satisfactory substitute for conventional leather outsoles as to wearing qualities, appearance, and which is adapted to be manufactured on an economical basis.

Such an outsole comprises a fore part and a heel part with the fore part consisting of a fabric blank impregnated with a waterproofing agent. To the edge of such a blank is attached by cross fastenings a trim, which may be of leather, of substantially the thickness of the blank, and which is of sufficient width to constitute a substantial part of the tread surfaces. The ends of the blank and trim abut the heel part and are connected thereto by suitable cross fastenings.

The upper surface of the outsole is marginally coated with a waterproofing cement extending inwardly of the edge of the blank. The bottom surface of the insole structure is also coated with that agent so that by applying a solvent to one of the coated surfaces, the outsole may be firmly bonded to the insole .by pressing the outsole against it.

Inoutsoles in accordance with my present invention, the same general principle is followed both as to their construction and as to the method ofattaching them to the insole structure. The novel features of my present invention are that each of the blanks includes fore and heel part portions and preferably is sole-shaped. It is impregnated with a waterproofing agent and to its edge, I attach, by cross fastenings, a, marginal fore part trim and a marginal heel part trim with their ends in abutment but not interconnected.

Both trims are substantially of the thickness of the blank to which they are attached and both trims are of sufiicient width to constitute a substantial part of the tread surface of the completed outsole.

This construction has the advantage of reducing to a minimum the trim material required for the heel part and facilitating manufacture since stitching between the abutting edges of the trims may be eliminated. A further advantage is that it provides an extensive line of cross fastening between the blank and the trim for the heel part and ensures that the characteristics of the outsole substantially through its entire length is determinedby the characteristics of the blank.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my invention as embodied in footwear of the playshoe type to illustrate its novel features and advantages.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a shoe in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the outsole, and

Fig. 3 shows a section through the fore part of the shoe of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown a shoe having an upper 5, an insole 6, a covered platform I, and a wedge shaped lift 8, the bottom of which and the bottom of the fore part of the platform I define the surface to which the outsole, generally indi-- cated at 9, is attached.

The outsole 9 consists of a fabric blank ID that may be sole-shaped and may conveniently be regarded as having a fore part Ill and a heel art Ill. Cotton woven belting of 4 or 4 /2 irons has proved satisfactory for outsoles in accordance with my invention. The blanks ID are impregnated with a waterproofing agent such as pyroxylin cement.

I attach a trim II to the edge of the fore part HF of the blank 10 as by the zigzag stitching l2. The trim l is of substantially the same thickness as the blank l0 and is preferably in the form of a strip of leather that may be shaped to the edge of the blank 10 as it is stitched thereto.

To the heel part of lo of the blank I0, I attach a heel trim l3 by the stitching [2. The heel trim I3 is preferably cut or molded from a thermo-plastic such as Vinylite to the correct size to receive the heel part [0 and is of the same thickness as the blank Ill.

The trims II and I3 are of sufficient width to establish a substantial part of the tread surface of the outsole 9. ends of the trims I l and I3 are of the same width and I have shown the heel trim 13 as being of increased width in its rear part as at M.

The trims II and I3 provide marginal reinforcement for the outsole and. eliminate fraying of the edges of the fabric blank H! as the shoe wears and also provide an edge that may be polished and that imparts to the sole, in side view, the appearance of an all leather sole. The upper surface of the trims II and I3 and the margin of the blank I 0 of the thus established outsole are then coated as at pyroxylin cement. In practice, this coat extends inwardly approximately one quarter of an inch from the edge of the blank H]. The sole receiving surface of the shoe is then coated with pyroxylin cement so that the outsole 9 may be attached to the sole receiving surface of the Preferably, the abutting l5 with.-

shoe by applying solvent to either or both coated.

surfaces. and then pressing the coated surfaces together to establish a bond, indicated at [6 in Fig.3.

My invention .thus provides, on an economical basis, an outsole satisfactory in appearance and wearing qualities and adapted to be easily attached to the shoe. The blank comprises a substantial part of the fore and heel parts of the outsole, while the trim for those parts. reinforces the blank andi gives the sole an attractive appearance.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure I having fore 15 nated throughout substantially its entire area with a waterproofing substance, a; trim for the being of substantially the same thickness as said blank and being of a width to constitute a substantial portion of the tread surface of said sole, and cross fastenings connecting said trims to said blank with the ends of said trims abutting each other.

2. The outsole, of claim 1 in which the abut-- ting ends of the trims are of the same Width.

3. An outsole comprising a blank having fore and heel part portions and being impregnated throughout substantially its entire" area with a waterproofing substance, a trim extending about the edge of said blank, said trim being of substantially the same thickness as said blank and being of a Width to constitute a substantial portion of the. tread surface of said sole, and cross fastenings connecting said trim to said blank.

' SAML L. KLEVEN. 

